Air-conditioner system



Sept. ll, 1.951 R. w. SMITH 2,567,915

AIR coNnITroNER SYSTEM Filed March 1, 1949 s sheets-sheet I1 III sept. 11, 1951 R. w. SMITH 2,567,915

A111 CONDITIONER SYSTEM Filed March 1, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 3B JI n INVENTOR. Ru/o Il 5/77/7/5 3g@- 7.v MJ

AT ORNEY Sept. l1, 1951 R. w. SMITH AIR CONDITIONER SYSTEM I5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March l, 1949 Raj/o ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 1.1, 1951 AIR-CONDITIONER SYSTEM Rulo Wayne Smith, Auburn, Ind., assignor to Customaire Engineering Company, Auburn,

Ind., a copartnership Application March 1, 1949, rSerial No. 79,080

7 Claims.

The invention relates generally to means for conditioningair and more particularly is directed to a conditioner of the portable or unit type as distinguished from those which are installed vto constitute a permanent or integral part of a building.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide a conditioner assembly embodying improved principles o1' design and construction, and which includes spacing the operating mechanism or apparatus and cooler unit in an article of furniture,. such as a cabinet in a manner whereby such space may be utilized for the storage of various files or other items.

An important object of the invention is to provide the above described construction with an improved diffuser assembly, so positioned that it will cause a column of air flowing in one direction, such as a vertical column, to be diverted in another direction, such as horizontally, to distribute in a fan-like pattern a blanket or layer of conditioned air at an appropriate predetermined elevation, in the neighborhood of six feet from the floor, in a living zone or area conducive to good health. x.

A significant object of the invention is to operatively associate the evaporator of the cooler unit and diuser assembly so that the unconditioned air will be returned to the evaporator for conditioning, preferably at the top of the living zone and immediately under the beam or blanket of conditioned air bein-g expelled from the diffuser. With this novel arrangement of components and method of circulation, the capacity of the conditioner is conned or restricted to the 2 portions thereof are offset and superimposed upon one another.

A further object of the invention is to provide the cabinet or article of furniture housing the components of the conditioner with a plurality of recesses adjacent the back thereof so that conduits, fittings and control mechanism may be conveniently arranged in the recesses, thereby permitting the back of the conditioner to be placed in abutting relationship with a wall of the room within which the conditioner is situated.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a well balanced eilicient conditioner havliving zone where needed, and thereby materially reduces the cost of operation as no waste is incurred in conditioning the air above such zone.

Another object of the invention is to design and construct a novel diiuser assembly having a deector provided with a plurality of unique deflecting surfaces, the def-lector being adjustable to present such surfaces to a column of air so that it may be deflected, without turbulence, in a direction or directions where most desired. More specifically in this respect the diffuser is devoid of all grille work or screens in order that the conditioned air may move in unbroken masses out through the discharge passages or ducts at comparatively lowvvelocities in the fan-like pattern alluded to above. p

An additional object of the invention is to provide a cooler unit of improved design and construction, characterized particularly by the novel shape of the evaporator coil and manner in which ing components which may be economically manufactured and assembled on a production basis.

Many other objects and advantages of the invention will appear after the description hereinafter set forth is considered in conjunction with the drawings annexed hereto.

In the drawings wherein like or corresponding parts are designated by the same numerals:

Figure l is'a perspective view of a preferred construction of the conditioner embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a top view of the conditioner, with portions broken away to illustrate certain details of construction;

Figure 3 is a front view of the conditioner, with portions removed to depict sections of the structure;

Fig. 4 is a top view of the conditioner, similar to Figure 2, showing the manner in which the deilector component of the diiuser assembly may be adjusted to direct the conditioned air where desired;

Figure 5 is a transverse section, taken through an appropriate part of the diffuser assembly, illustrating additional details relative to the adjustment of the deflector;

Figure 6 is a vertical section taken ythrough Figure 3 showing .the relationship of the various components comprising the conditioner assembly and factors pertinent to the circulation -of air;

Figure 7 is a transverse section taken through the cooler unit exemplifying features of design and construction;

Figures 8 and 9 depict improvements relative to the construction of the evaporator coil;

Figure l0 illustratesa. top view of a modified form of diifuser assembly which may be used in combination with the cooler unit above described;

Figure ll illustrates a side view of the diffuser assembly shown in Figure l0 incombination with 3 a cooler unit, with portions in section to illustrate structural details;

Figure 12 is a front view of the assembly depicted in Figure 1l; and

. Figure 13 is a top viewsimilar to Figure 10 and illustrates along with Figures l1 and 12, the manner in which the deflector may be adjusted to direct the conditioned air wherever desired.

In order to assist in circulating the air within the living zone as described above, the cabinet is preferably made of a height between six and seven feet and divided into a plurality of vertically arranged compartments. The main body of the cabinet is substantially of uniform rectangular cross-section and includes a lower compartment I provided with a platform supporting conventional apparatus for circulating a refriger-- ant. and an upper storage compartment 3, of a greater height than the lower compartment, provided with shelves 4 for the convenient storage of illes or other items. The storage compartment is preferably sealed oif from the remainder of the cabinet and may be utilized to house any item or items, such as sliding drawers, radio or television unit. Swinging doors 5 may be provided for the storage compartment and a removable panel 6 for the lower compartment.

A cooler unit 1 is superimposed on the storage compartment, and a diffuser assembly 8 is arranged on the cooler unit. The relative shapes and sizes of the components may be varied as desired but, as illustrated herein, the cooler unit and diffuser assembly are preferably made generally rectangular in shape, the cooler unit being somewhat smaller than the cross-sectional size of the main body of the cabinet, and the `diffuser assembly smaller than the cooler unit, thereby providing a well proportioned article of furniture of pleasing design.

The apparatus in the lower compartment is of a conventional character and, among other things, includes an electric motor 9 for a compressor I and a condenser II. which are operatively connected to the coil I2 of the evaporator by a pipe I3 containing a refrigerant and a return line I4. A supply of fresh cold water, properly regulated is adapted to be connected to a pipe I leading to the condenser for cooling purposes and an outlet I6 is adapted to be hooked into a drain; the latter, including various electrical connections between the apparatus and a fan assembly I1 in the cooler unit not being shown.

The storage and lower compartments may be constructed as desired but, as illustrated herein, the rear walls I8 and I9 thereof are preferably inset from the back of the cabinet to provide in- '4 rangement, among other things, allows the cabinet to be placed substantially in abutting relationship with the wall of a room to promote the circulation of air and increase the frontal floor space.

The frame of the cooler unit 1 includes a top horizontal wall 26 constituting a partition between the cooler unit 1 and diffuser assembly 8. 'I'his wall is parallel to the other `partitions and is provided with a substantially centrally ,disposed circular opening 21 located immediately above the propeller 28. The side walls 29 of the frame are provided with grilles 30 and its front wall 3I with a. grille 32, through which the air to be conditioned is drawn into the cooler unit by the propeller.

The evaporator coil I2 of the cooler unit is unique in design and construction by being made generally elliptical or oval in form as illustrated in Figure 7 in order to take full advantage of therectangular shape of the frame within which it is arranged. This coil also embodies the novel feature of having offset and overlapping portions as exemplified in Figures 6, 7 and 8 so that the upper and lower convolutions of the coil will lie in spaced parallel planes and more or less against the partition walls 26 and 22, respectively, to provide a well balanced evaporator which will condition all air that is sucked in through the grilles. The periphery of the coil is preferably spaced from the rear, front and side walls of the frame to permit the incoming air to freely circulate between the convolutions of the coi-1 and radiating fins 33 carried thereby.

'I'he pan 25, above referred to, is supported on the top wall 22 of the storage compartment in a concealed position under the coil to catch condensate therefrom. Any condensate dripping into the pan will nd its way to the outlet 24. This pan is made relatively shallow so as to prevent interference with the proper circulation of the air.

The motor of the fan assembly is preferably centrally mounted in the coil I2 upon a bifurcated standard 34. the latter being anchored to the top wall 22 of the said storage compartment by screws 35. This fan assembly is mounted so as to place the propeller 28 in a predetermined operative relationship with respect to cooler unit, the opening 21 and diffuser assembly to obtain the greatest advantage possible, all of -which will terconnected recesses 20 and 2| to house certain of the pipes and electrical lines, facilitate installation, and detachable connections between the operative components. The majority of pipes extend through the wall I9 of the lower compartment and pipes I3 and I4 in particular project upwardly into the recess 20 and through the top horizontal Wall 22 of the storage compartment, preferably at a point located between the rear wall I8 of the storage compartment and the rear wall 23 of the cooler unit. A drain pipe 24 connected to a pan 25 in the cooler also extends through the top wall 22 and downwardly into the recess 20 for attachment to a drain. It will be noted that the wall 22 constitutes a common partition between the cooler unit and storage compartment and that a wall is shown which is common to and constiutes a partition between the storage and lower compartments. This arconditions of use.

be described more in detail subsequently.

A number of basic features of design and construction are embodied in the diifuser assembly 8 for the purpose of improving its ellciency in circulating air in a predetermined pattern. It is comprised of a minimum number of parts but has proven most effective and practical under all 'Ihis assembly may be constructed in various ways but, as illustrated particularly in Figures 1 through 4 and', includes a vertical back Wall 36, a front Wall 31 and side walls 38, the latter being joined to the back wall to form a rectangular enclosure of comparatively low elevation. The vertical back wall 36, however, is higher than the front and side walls and supports a horizontal rectangular top wall 39 in a predetermined spaced relationship to the upper marginal edges of said front and side walls to define or provide a front opening or duct 40 and corresponding side openings or ducts 4I, which ducts are all communicatively connected together as shown in Figures l, 3 and 6. A square aperture 42 is preferably provided in the horizontal wall 39 slightly back of its center. A deanemie ilector or baille member 43, constituting a component of the diffuser assembly, is preferably operatively connected for slidable and rotatable adjustment with respect to the underside of the horizontal wall 39 by any suitable fastening means, such as a screw 44, an annular slidable element 45 and a wing nut 46. The lower extremity of the screw is anchored against movement in the deflector member and its upper extremity projects upwardly through an aperture 42 in wall 39 and element 45 and is threadedly connected to the wing nut. The slidable element 45 is preferably recessed at 41 to receive the nut to substantially conceal it when the conditioner is viewed at eye level.

The upper part of the defiector 43 is substantially rectangular and flat for slidably engaging the under side of the horizontal supporting wall 39. More particularly in this respect, such part is defined by a front longitudinal edge 43, a longitudinal rear wall 49, and transverse parallel edges 50. The edges 48 and 50 flare or merge into the plane formed by the said under side of the wall 39. A plate 5| is secured to the rear wall 49. Y

This deilector is unique in design and construction and is preferably formed to provide a generally triangular concave front deilecting surface 52 disposed adjacent to the front duct 49, and corresponding generally concave cylindrical deflecting surfaces 53 at its ends adjacent to the side ducts 4|. When the conditioner is viewed from the top as in Figure 2, the front defiecting surface 52 appears as an isosceles triangle dened by the longitudinal edge 49 constituting the base of the triangle and corresponding edges 54 constituting the sides thereof, and each of the end deflecting surfaces 53 is generally of a trapezoidal character defined by a transverse edge 50, plate 52, one of the edges 54 and an intermediate straight edge 55 common to the end defiecting surfaces 53. This intermediate edge 55 is arranged in the same plane as the lower edge of the rear plate 5| and constitutes a dividing line between the end surfaces 53. The corresponding edges 54 are curved rearwardly and intersect each other including the intermediate edge 55 at point 56, which point or location is preferably on the same vertical axis as the propeller shaft and opening 21,

- thereby presenting the deflecting surfaces to the vertical substantially round column of conditioned air being forced upwardly through such opening by the propeller. The curvature of all of the deecting surfaces is preferably of such a character that all conditioned air that is forced upwardly against these surfaces by the fan will be uniformly accelerated without turbulence out through the front and side ducts 49 and 4| in substantially a horizontal fan-like pattern, as exemplified in Figure of a modified construction. The curved edges 54 and intermediate edge 55 are disposed below the upper edges of the front and side walls of the diffuser frame and assist in apportioning the air to the respective deilecting surfaces. The rear plate 5| serves to prevent any air from `flowing rearwardly into the corners of the diffuser assem bly by guiding it laterally toward the side ducts.

Attention is directed to the fact that the upper part of the deflector is preferably of a rectangular size somewhat less than the rectangular size of the horizontal supporting wall 39 so that the at exposed portions of the wall about said upper Apart will assist in causing the deflected air to level 'on' in a substantially horizontal direction. Due to the absence of all grille work in the outlet ducts, the conditioned air is not impeded in any way but is free to pass in unbroken masses through such ducts into a room at comparatively low velocities.

One particularly significant feature of the invention, as pointed out above, is the adjustability of the deflector. The deilector may be rotated about the vertical axis of the screw 44 or shifted relative to the horizontal supporting wall 39 to operatively position the point 56' and associated edges 54 and 55 and deecting surfaces 52 and 53 with respect to the vertical column of conditioned air forced upwardly by the propeller. More specifically in this regard, the deflector may be bodily displaced from the full line position illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3 to the left or right of such position as shown by the dotted lines in Figure 2; it may also be moved forwardly or rearwardly as shown by the full and dotted line positions of Figure 6; or shifted and pivoted about the axis of the screw 44 to various positions, including those exemplified in Figure 4 so that for example, a greater Volume of conditioned air may be directed to either of the side ducts and/or the vfront ducts of the conditioner. The opening 42 in the wall 39 allows for a wide practical range of deector adjustment. 'Ihis assembly of components offers, among other things, the distinct advantage of permitting one to locate the conditioner in the corner of a room and then adjust the deflector so that practically all of the air will be directed outwardly through the front duct and one of the side ducts, substantially to the exclusion of the other side duct. The adjustment is easily effected by merely loosening the wing nut 46, whereupon the deflector may be moved to the position desired, after which the nut is tightened to lock the deflector in such position.

y As stated above, the diffuser assembly may be designed and constructed in various ways. An alternative or modified construction is exemplified in Figures 10 through 13 of the drawing. In this modification, all of the' parts or elements except for the deflector, are substantially lidentical with those described above in connection with the assembly illustrated in Figures 1 through 9. The upper part of the deflector 51 of this modied construction'as viewed in Figure 10 is generally rectangular in shape, being defined by a longitudinal front edge 58, a longitudinal rear wall 59, and transverse edges 69. A plate 6I is secured to the rear wall 59 for the same purpose as plate 5|.

This deflector differs primarily from the deflector 43 above described by having a generally concave cylindrical defiecting surface 62 at its front defined by the edge 58, transverse edges 69, and'an intermediate edge 63 disposed substantially midway between and parallel to edge 59 and rear wall 59. This deector is also provided at its ends with a pair of corresponding concave generally cylindrical deecting surfaces 64 separated by an edge 65 disposed midway between and parallel to the edges 60 and intersecting edge 63 at point 66. More specifically in these respects, the front and end deecting surfaces are preferably substantially rectangular in shape; each of the end surfaces being defined by the edges 69, 63. and rear plate 6|. The front deflecting surface 62 is arranged to face the front duct-of the assembly andthe end deecting surfaces 64 the side ducts for directing the condi- 7 f tioned air in a horizontal fan-like pattern acro the top of the living zone. It will be noted that the edges 63 and 65 are on the same level as the lower edge of plate 6l; vthat they are below the upper marginal edges of the front and side walls of the diffuser frame; and in close proximity to a circular opening 6l provided in the partition wall 68 between this diffuser assembly and cooler unit so that the vertical column of air forced upwardly through such opening is proportioned to the respective deiiecting surfaces. The deector 51 is preferably constructed and arranged so that a greater volume of conditioned air may be directed outwardly through the front duct of the assembly as compared to the construction illustrated lin Figures 1 through 9 of the drawing. As shown in Figure 11 the deflector may be shifted forwardly or rearwardly; laterally to the left or right as depicted in Figure 12; or, as illustrated in Figure 13,A to any other position desired, within practicable limits, substantially in the same manner as the rst described construction.

In view of the foregoing description it will be manifest that the conditioner embodies improved principles of design and construction, and that certain of its components possess novel characteristics. More particularly in these respects it will be apparent that the conditioner in addition to providing a convenient intervening storage compartment, will distribute a blanket of conditioned air substantially horizontally across the top of the living zone in masses at comparatively low velocities and that the air being returned for reconditioning is sucked into the grilles 30 and 32 of the cooler unit at a level slightly below the blanket of conditioned air as illustrated in Figure 6. The circulation of air is such that an individual situated in the space or room being conditioned will not notice any pronounced movement of the air as is the case with the various types of conditioners now in use. Furthermore, due to the absence of all grille Work in the diffuser assembly the movement of air is substantially noiseless; in other Words, the air is caused to more or less freely circulate within the living zone, all of which is conducive to the general health of the individual. Moreover, it will be evident that the conditioner is provided with an improved diffuser assembly having a deflector component which may be adjusted to any one of a plurality of infinite positions Within practicable limits, so that a greater volume of conditioned air may be deflected in one direction. than in another.

Having thus described my invention,it is obvious that various modifications may be made in the same withoutvdeparting from the spirit of the invention; and, therefore, I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact forms, constructions, arrangements, and combinations of parts herein shown and described.

I claim.

1. Apparatus for conditioning air comprising a lower compartment provided with an inlet and an upper compartment provided with outlets, said compartments being communicatively connected by a restricted passage, an evaporator adapted to be connected to operating apparatus disposed in the lower compartment, a defiector arranged in the upper compartment and provided with a plurality of dei'lecting surfaces disposed over the passage, and a means in the lower compartment for drawing air into the inlet for cooling treatment by the evaporator and then forcing it through the passage against the deilecting surfaces and out through the outlets, said deflecting surfaces being constructed and arranged to direct the air substantially horizontally in a fanlike pattern.

2. An larticle of furniture having a lower compartment containing air conditioning operating apparatus; a relatively large storage compartment disposed above the lower compartment; a cooler unit arranged on the storage compartment and provided with a coil, an air inlet and an air outlet; said lower and storage compartment hav-- ing inset back walls to provide recesses, means located in said recesses operatively connecting the apparatus with the coil; a drip pan disposed under the coil; a diffuser assembly carried by the cooler unit and provided with a horizontal support and unrestricted openings slightly above the inlet; said diffuser assembly including a deflector rotatively and slidably connected to said support; said deiiector being provided with a plurality of defiecting surfaces arranged over the outlet; and means for circulating air through the inlet into the coil and forcing it in a vertical column through the outlet against the defiecting surfaces; said defiecting surfaces being constructed and arranged to direct the air outwardly through the openings in a fan-like pattern at a predetermined elevation.

3. A diifuser assembly comprising a housing having a top wall, a pair of side walls, and a front wall, an opening provided in the front wall and in each of the side walls, said housing having a substantially vertical air inlet disposed inwardly from the side walls, a deilector having a flat upper side secured against the under side of the said top wall and a lower side provided-with a distinct concave deflecting surface above the air inlet and opposite each opening for deiiecting air through the openings as it is received from the inlet.

4. A diffuser assembly comprising a housing having a top wall, a pair of side walls, and a front wall, an opening provided in the front wall and in each of the side walls, said housing having a substantially vertical air inlet disposed inwardly from the side walls, a defiector having a flat upper side secured against the under side of the said top wall and a lower side provided with a pair of corresponding concave defiecting surfaces with one arranged opposite each side opening,

said deflector also having a third concave de fleeting surface of a size larger than the said pair of surfaces arranged opposite the front opening, all of said defiecting surfaces being located above theair inlet and serving to deflect air through the openings as it is directed to the surfaces from the inlet.

5. A diffuser assembly for use in an air conditioner comprising a. box-like frame having a at top wall and side walls, said side walls being constructed to provide openings, said frame also having a centrally disposed restricted air inlet communicating with the interior of the frame, an air defiector having a flat upper side engaging the underside of the flat top Iwall and also having curved surfaces arranged directly above the air inlet, and means connecting the deector to the top wall in a manner whereby the deector may and generally quadrilateral in shape and having a pair of corresponding generally trapezoidal concave deecting surfaces facing in directly opposite directions, said deflecting surfaces merging along a common medial line of juncture parallel to opposite sides of the defiector and being spaced from the 'base of the deector, said line of juncture being of a length somewhat less than the length of the said opposite sides and terminating at a point spaced inwardly from the four sides of the deector, and said deector also having a third generally triangular concave deilecting surface facing in a direction substantially at right angles to the said pair of deflecting surfaces with its apex intersecting the said terminating point f the medialline of juncture.

7. A member for deilecting a column of air, said deflector having a substantially at upper side and a pair of similar concave deecting surfaces depending from tl-e underside of said deflector. said deilecting surfaces having lower portions joined together along a common edge, and a third deflecting surface arranged substantially transverse to said pair of concave deilecting surfaces, all of said deecting surfaces being adapted for presentation to a column of air.

RULO WAYNE SMITH.

REFERENCES CITED The followingv references are of'record in the le of this patent:

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